Rice University professor Gerry Sanders named dean of UTSA College of Business

(April 4, 2013) -- Wm. Gerard (Gerry) Sanders, professor of strategic management at Rice University, has been named dean and Bodenstedt Chair of The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Business. He will begin his duties June 1, 2013.

A leading researcher in corporate governance, Sanders has been a faculty member at Rice University since 2008 and previously served as a department chair and faculty member at Brigham Young University for 12 years.

Before entering academia, Sanders spent more than a decade working in institutional commercial real estate investment with Equitec Financial Group, Bechtel Investments and The Koll Company.

"Gerry Sanders brings considerable real-world experience to this position and understands the significant role that the College of Business plays in developing our city and state," said John Frederick, UTSA provost and vice president for academic affairs. "He is tremendously well-respected in his field and, coming from Rice, knows what it takes to be a part of a Tier One research institution."

"I have been extremely impressed by the caliber of students that I've met and the professionalism of the faculty, administrators and staff at the UTSA College of Business," said Sanders. "The university's momentum toward top-tier status is clearly evident, and I am thrilled to be a part of this journey."

A native of California with strong Texas ties, Sanders' research focuses on corporate governance and executive leadership and their effects on strategic decision making and company performance. He has published studies on the effects of CEO stock-option pay on firm risk taking; the role of top management work experiences on firm strategy; and the nature of what firms learn from their board members' experiences.

His research has been published in leading management journals including the Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal and the Journal of Management. His work on stock-option pay also has been featured in The New York Times, The Economist and BusinessWeek.

"The UTSA College of Business is positioned to impact not only the lives of our students, but also to enhance the quality of life of the greater San Antonio community by educating and training future generations of entrepreneurs and business leaders," said Sanders. "I look forward to working with alumni and employers to align our efforts with the demands of a dynamic marketplace."

Sanders received his Ph.D. in management from the University of Texas at Austin and holds a bachelor's in finance from Brigham Young University.

Sanders will be the first to hold the Bodenstedt Chair for the Dean of Business, which is one of 13 newly endowed positions established in response to a recent $5 million H-E-B Faculty Research Fund matching gift to UTSA supporting the recruitment and retention of leading scholars and researchers.

"Professor Sanders deeply impressed the college's faculty and staff, as well as the other deans and members of the community," said Mauli Agrawal, David and Jennifer Spencer Distinguished Dean's Chair in the College of Engineering and chair of the search committee. "He is the right person to build on the college's shared vision, growing reputation and national rankings."

Sanders succeeds Lynda de la Viña, Peter Flawn Professor and director of the Center for Global Entrepreneurship, who served as dean of the college from 2004 to 2012. Daniel Hollas, UTSA professor of economics, has served as interim dean of the college since 2012.

Nationally ranked and internationally recognized, the UTSA College of Business offers a comprehensive curriculum that expands the boundaries of a traditional business education. With more than 5,700 students, the college portfolio includes traditional degrees in accounting, finance, management and marketing as well as programs in entrepreneurship, information assurance and security and real estate finance and development. Internationally accredited by AACSB International, the college is nationally ranked by BusinessWeek, Hispanic Business and the Princeton Review.

Come out and enjoy breakfast and beverages at the Official UTSA Tailgate in Albuquerque as our Roadrunners take on the New Mexico Lobos at the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. The official UTSA tailgate will be located in Fan Fest in the University Stadium Parking Lot, Stadium East.
University Stadium parking lot, Albuquerque, NM

Graduates from the College of Architecture, Construction and Planning, College of Business, College of Education and Human Development and the College of Public Policy will participate in the first commencement ceremony. President Romo will deliver the keynote address.
Alamodome

Graduates from the College of Engineering, College of Liberal and Fine Arts, College of Sciences and University College will participate in the second commencement ceremony. President Romo will deliver the keynote address.
Alamodome

All UTSA students, faculty and staff are invited to march with UTSA in the 30th annual MLK March. There will be a FREE shuttle from the UTSA Main Campus. Pick up in front of the Convocation Center at 8:30 a.m. Depart from UTSA at 9 a.m. Buses return to UTSA at 1 p.m
Convocation Center, Main Campus

UTSA's Department of Music hosts Dr. David Huron from Ohio State University as part of the Donald Hodges lecture series. Huron is a Canadian arts and humanities distinguished professor at Ohio State University.
John Peace Library, UTSA Faculty Center, (JPL 4.04.22), Main Campus

The Student Center for Community Engagement and Inclusion annually hosts a Volunteer Opportunities Fair to allow students, faculty and staff to learn about volunteer and service-learning opportunities in the San Antonio area.
University Center, 1st floor corridor, Main Campus

UTSA's Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA's Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA's Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.